Oscar Pistorius involved in Johannesburg nightclub altercation

Oscar Pistorius's spokeswoman says he left the nightclub after a patron try to "aggressively interrogate" him.

Reuters: Phill Magakoe

South African Olympic track star Oscar Pistorius has been involved in an argument at a nightclub just days after his lawyers wrapped up their defence in his murder trial.

The athlete, who is accused of murdering his girlfriend, was in the VIP section of a plush Johannesburg nightclub at the weekend when the altercation occurred with another patron, named by The Star newspaper as Jared Mortimer.

A spokeswoman for Pistorius's family, Anneliese Burgess, said the argument started after Mr Mortimer started to "aggressively interrogate" Pistorius about the murder trial, which has attracted huge domestic and international attention.

"An argument ensued during which [Pistorius] asked to be left alone. Oscar left soon thereafter," she said.

"Our client regrets the decision to go into a public place and thereby invite unwelcome attention."

Mr Mortimer told The Star a friend introduced him to Pistorius, who then launched into a tirade, telling him how he had been "screwed over" by Mr Mortimer's friends.

"We were drinking tequila and I still remember putting down my drink and thinking I couldn't drink it while my friends were being spoken of like that," he said.

Mr Mortimer said at some point the sprinter, known as the Blade Runner, got aggressive and started poking him in the chest.

"He was close to my face and at that point I pushed him to get him away from me," he said.

"A chair was behind his legs and he fell to the ground."

The curtains of the VIP area of the club in Sandton, a wealthy suburb north of Johannesburg, were drawn so that nobody could see Pistorius was there.

"A little bit later he had a confrontation with another man and the bouncers were asked to please remove him because he was causing trouble," Mr Mortimer said.